Changes In The Booth

[notoriousgod71]

Do not try to reinvent the wheel. MNF tried it with Dennis Miller and they haven't had a competent booth since.

Provus is the obvious choice. I just want someone who can judge a fly ball, convey a thought in proper grammatical form, is mildly entertaining, and doesn't have a grating voice.

 

 

[Parfigliano]

21 minutes ago, notoriousgod71 said:

Do not try to reinvent the wheel. MNF tried it with Dennis Miller and they haven't had a competent booth since.

Provus is the obvious choice. I just want someone who can judge a fly ball, convey a thought in proper grammatical form, is mildly entertaining, and doesn't have a grating voice.

 

 

"...judge a fly ball"... I see what you did there.

[lecroy24fan]

Too bad he was pushed out. 28 games short of 5000 called. 

 

But he should be the no brainer pick for the Twins HOF for 2024.

[Riverbrian]

3 hours ago, Road trip said:

I understand and respect what you are saying about the need to grow the fan base, but think I disagree.

I guess, sure, the Twins could follow the ESPN entertainment route and hire a big personality similar to Pat McAfee or Steven A Smith.  Hawk Harrelson would be another example.  Big personalities that create controversy.  More noise than substance.  (And yes, I know that Hawk played MLB, but he's become a caricature).

Maybe it works to increase ratings, but I prefer the insight that ex-players provide. It need not be a big name...could even be someone who never reached the majors, but I want the announcers to know more about the intricacies of the game than I do.  If I wanted controversy, I'd be watching Real Housewives (or McAfee and Smith on ESPN... a station I rarely watch anymore except for live games).

Baseball remains a slow game, and you have to learn it well to enjoy watching it.  It helps if you've played baseball (or softball), and you understand the nuances.  Getting kids to play the sport is the key for future fan interest.  An outside-the-box announcing crew probably won't do much to help attract new fans, and may well annoy your core audience.

I agree with a lot of what you say but here's the deal though.

Baseball is about to unshackle itself from the severe limitations of the regional sports network.

The old world clinging to your backside as you enter the new world isn't recommended.

Finding a better version of Dick Bremer as things change isn't wise. It may make the old guard happy but the old guard won't get the T-Mobile money that baseball wants.  

I found some numbers online from 2021.

81% of people over the age of 65 have cable. 

66% of persons 50-64

46% of persons 30-49

34% of persons 18-29

I'm sorry I can't confirm the accuracy of these stats and I'm sorry that I don't have updated 2023 numbers but I honestly didn't look that hard for them because we all know about the decline of cable. 

Baseball demographics are not that far from cable which has served as it's main delivery source for decades. Oddly enough.    

It's a new day. A better version of Dick Bremer isn't the way forward as baseball finally gets away from the short term dollar of the regional sports network to the longer term of being everywhere on every device. 

[Fat Calvin]

10 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Dick has been a part of my Twins family for 40 years. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors with the Twins organization. 

Next year will certainly sound different and in time that will be OK as his replacement becomes a new member of my Twins family. 

In search of his replacement, I encourage the Twins to strongly consider two things. 

1. Make sure that females are strong considerations for the job (Marney Gellner for example). I'm not saying that the replacement has to be female but certainly make sure that the door is open wide for strong consideration.  

2. Don't try to recreate the traditional structure that has been in place for decades. Choose personality over experience, over voice or over that traditional smoothness that has been the norm.

You are about to venture off into new territory. You have the potential to reach more consumers on more devices across the entire country. You are no longer limited by the Twins territory regional broadcast footprint.

Baseball does pretty good with the older demographics in the region, to increase audience size, it needs to get younger and it needs more from female demographics.

Changing from the traditional format will help grow your current and future audiences. You can start right here... with this spot.    

 

I don't want a woman.  I don't want a man.  I don't want a person of color;  I don't want a person of no color.  I don't want a member of the LGBTQ group; I don't want a heterosexual; I don't want a Jew; I don't want a Palestinian; I don't want a vegan; I don't want a carnivore.  What I want is somebody with a good radio voice who knows baseball and has a sense of humor.  Equal opportunity, baby!!!

[jimmyc]

10 hours ago, davidborton said:

As a strictly radio listener, this is what I am afraid of. Gladden in shotgun with Atteberry with the reigns.

Oh, goodness...

Listened to Atteberry work with Gladden for the short time this summer while Corey was filling in for Bremer.  It was like Atteberry was teaching his grandfather about 21st century baseball.  It was hilarious.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

9 hours ago, howeda7 said:

Provous to TV should be a no-brainer. I have nothing against Marney Gelner but I don't think you go straight to head play-by-play for an MLB team having done no baseball play-by-play previously. I know she's done some Lynx games but I think having done the same sport matters. Further,  I can't imagine her wanting that travel schedule anyway.

She’s done play by play for the Twins in Spring Training and is awesome!

better call mama!

https://m.facebook.com/BallySportsNorth/videos/cj-cron-hits-a-solo-home-run/362666007908627/

[strumdatjag]

I’ll miss his play-by-play.  I sat in seats just below his booth and saw him go out of his way to engage with fans (even me -  he didn’t like my Nishioka jersey until I explained I wore it only when the Twins were on a losing streak as punishment).  

[Jocko87]

13 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I'll take it a step further and we might head off in different directions with this further step. 

The color analyst doesn't have to be an ex ball-player. The ex ball player doing color is the traditional format. The same ole' same ole'.  

Baseball needs to attract younger audiences and that is going to require change from the traditional broadcast. 

Yes baseball knowledge is a must but think entertainment first. I would not be afraid of 3 in the booth. I'd be looking for the equivalent of the KFAN Powertrip morning show in the broadcast booth. 

I realize that I probably lost you and I also lost a lot of people with that suggestion but baseball demographics need to be younger and more diverse. The traditional way of broadcasting games... the traditional way of playing games have produced demos that are older than any of the major sports by a large margin... Too large a margin... large enough to seriously having to consider the risk of the sport aging out of mainstream relevance.  

Advertisers want younger demographics than what baseball currently provides. It's time for a change and it's going to take tolerance from us older folks to achieve it.       

I'll take the Powertrip thing as I think it was meant.  A discussion starter idea that was never intended seriously.  Look at all the reaction it got!  Well done.  Someone has to vocalize bad ideas to get good ideas to flow. 

I don't have any good ideas here that haven't been brought up already.  Provus would be fine but I'm a radio guy and couldn't live with Atteberry.  Radio is still crucial in Twins territory much more than others with all the tractor coverage and whatnot so I'd rather not mess with it.  Provus is fantastic and the radio reach over the years dwarfs Bremer.

What I will say that Brian is on to, is that with the combination of the TV rights deal and Bremer leaving, that there is a perfect opportunity to revolutionize this whole deal.  It is also required. 

I've written in the TV deal forums that the current distribution system is dead.  Not gone, but dead still walking.  I believe they are aware of this as well.  We may ultimately end up with a pretty standard booth in the end but a completely different distribution system and that would be fine as well.  If they take the production in house they can really do some great things with a relatively traditional booth.  Can I have a full time ump cam?  It may not be a crazy morning DJ type but they could do awesome features with the access they would have.  The would also be producing based on local feedback and not the generic national format. 

The play by play guy is only a part of the broadcast and may not be the spot to get funky, just yet.  Spicing everything around them may accomplish the same goals.

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

I'll take the Powertrip thing as I think it was meant.  A discussion starter idea that was never intended seriously.  Look at all the reaction it got!  Well done.  Someone has to vocalize bad ideas to get good ideas to flow. 

I don't have any good ideas here that haven't been brought up already.  Provus would be fine but I'm a radio guy and couldn't live with Atteberry.  Radio is still crucial in Twins territory much more than others with all the tractor coverage and whatnot so I'd rather not mess with it.  Provus is fantastic and the radio reach over the years dwarfs Bremer.

What I will say that Brian is on to, is that with the combination of the TV rights deal and Bremer leaving, that there is a perfect opportunity to revolutionize this whole deal.  It is also required. 

I've written in the TV deal forums that the current distribution system is dead.  Not gone, but dead still walking.  I believe they are aware of this as well.  We may ultimately end up with a pretty standard booth in the end but a completely different distribution system and that would be fine as well.  If they take the production in house they can really do some great things with a relatively traditional booth.  Can I have a full time ump cam?  It may not be a crazy morning DJ type but they could do awesome features with the access they would have.  The would also be producing based on local feedback and not the generic national format. 

The play by play guy is only a part of the broadcast and may not be the spot to get funky, just yet.  Spicing everything around them may accomplish the same goals.

Thank You... You understand exactly what I'm saying. 

It was going to be impossible for me to have a discussion about what is needed because:

1. Very few if any was going to leave the comfort of what they know. They were going to search for a better version of Dick Bremer. Change never comes easy. It takes a powertrip comment to shock them out of it.  

2. Everyone's individual minds eye was going to see my morning show comment individually and in the worst possible form with no other point of reference.  

3. The Twinsdaily forum is going to be littered with the AVID fan... not the CASUAL fan. The avid fan can sit through 9 innings of baseball in it's current form. The avid fan has been sitting through 9 innings for decades... they don't see the problem... they don't want change... they are being served while the casual fan won't sit through 9 innings of baseball... they can barely make it through half of an inning. The traditional format isn't holding their interest. 

4. There are more casual fans than avid fans by a large large large margin. Converting casual to avid is the key to the sports future. Converting someone who kinda follows to casual is key to the sports future. 

5. A better version of the same thing is like trying to get more customers into your restaurant by painting the walls blue after years of red. 

Before you even get into demographics that are out of the prime demos. There are two components to audience measurement. How many and How long. How many consumers and how long do they consume. Not only does baseball need more consumers... they need them to consume longer.

Cory is fantastic... he's a pro but we have posters who have way too much faith in Cory Provus being the answer. 

 

 

[Dave Borton]

18 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

I like Atteberry but I certainly understand how others may not

Make no mistake, I love Atteberry on the updates and I am unsure of how he does it so quickly and accurately.

But as main guy, he just talks it to death without any sense of pause or appropriate drama in his calling.

[Squirrel]

16 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Kars for Kids.

Oh great … EAR WORM!

[DJL44]

12 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I agree with a lot of what you say but here's the deal though.

Baseball is about to unshackle itself from the severe limitations of the regional sports network.

The old world clinging to your backside as you enter the new world isn't recommended.

Finding a better version of Dick Bremer as things change isn't wise. It may make the old guard happy but the old guard won't get the T-Mobile money that baseball wants.  

I found some numbers online from 2021.

81% of people over the age of 65 have cable. 

66% of persons 50-64

46% of persons 30-49

34% of persons 18-29

I'm sorry I can't confirm the accuracy of these stats and I'm sorry that I don't have updated 2023 numbers but I honestly didn't look that hard for them because we all know about the decline of cable. 

Baseball demographics are not that far from cable which has served as it's main delivery source for decades. Oddly enough.    

It's a new day. A better version of Dick Bremer isn't the way forward as baseball finally gets away from the short term dollar of the regional sports network to the longer term of being everywhere on every device. 

Counterpoint - cable TV is full of annoying talking head shows like you have proposed. ESPN runs those shows all day long. Young people obviously don't feel that programming is worth paying for. Why would they all of a sudden find it appealing during Twins broadcasts?

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Cory is fantastic... he's a pro but we have posters who have way too much faith in Cory Provus being the answer.

Hey, I’m way on board with your Marni suggestion. Without hearing the other auditions, she’d be my first choice. I’d like to see suggestions from people that do not include any current pbp announcers.

[Riverbrian]

16 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Counterpoint - cable TV is full of annoying talking head shows like you have proposed. ESPN runs those shows all day long. Young people obviously don't feel that programming is worth paying for. Why would they all of a sudden find it appealing during Twins broadcasts?

At no point did I propose "annoying".

Why would anyone propose "annoying" when looking to increase audience? 

   

 

 

[Craig Arko]

Marney! Marney! Marney!

[DJL44]

19 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

At no point did I propose "annoying".

Why would anyone propose "annoying" when looking to increase audience? 

You mentioned the Power Trip morning show. Same difference.

[nicksaviking]

53 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Hey, I’m way on board with your Marni suggestion. Without hearing the other auditions, she’d be my first choice. I’d like to see suggestions from people that do not include any current pbp announcers.

I like Marney and would give her the nod, but she seems pretty busy. Maybe she'd be willing to drop everything else, but she also seems like the kind of person who loves having her finger on the pulse of all things Minnesota sports. She feels like this era's audio/video version of Sid Hartman.

In any case, she's a huge asset to the regional sports scene.

[Riverbrian]

44 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

You mentioned the Power Trip morning show. Same difference.

It's not... but OK... let's go ahead and say it is because you believe it is. 

Let me be clear that others have taken my Powertrip example to Stephen A. Smith level and then used that made up Stephen A. Smith logic against me. I have no inclination to sit and debate the annoyance of Stephen A. Smith or Bar Rescue or the Macreana when I never said Stephen A. Smith.

I'm not even saying Meat Sauce when I use the Powertrip morning show example for the type of change necessary. I am simply talking about change from the current traditional structure in an attempt to be more palatable to audience that wasn't finding the traditional format palatable. I'll let everyone else create their own personal boogeymen as reason to resist necessary change... I can't follow that path.    

At this point in our conversation... I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you understand that baseball is entertainment. All forms of entertainment chase numbers. I'm not saying Stephen A. Smith but you do understand that Stephen A. Smith is well compensated by ESPN because he has viewers. If he didn't... we wouldn't even know his name. I'll also give you the benefit of the doubt that deep down you understand how entertainment programming is chosen. If people watch it... it stays on the air. If people don't... it's gone. That's why you lose some things you like and gain somethings you don't like along the way. 

I have a rather extensive list of music on my spotify account and I don't have one Taylor Swift song in that extensive personal library and I'm personally happy with that. However... I don't expect Spotify to drop all Taylor Swift songs to appeal to me. I expect Spotify to appeal to whatever brings them bigger numbers and Taylor is much more popular than Sniff-n-the tears... I realize this even as I'm cranking Drivers Seat at top volume driving on the interstate.

So let me ask you this... Has our discussion devolved into a Sniff-N-The Tears vs Taylor Swift discussion. 😄  

        

[DJL44]

13 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm not saying Stephen A. Smith but you do understand that Stephen A. Smith is well compensated by ESPN because he has viewers. If he didn't... we wouldn't even know his name.

Talking head programming is popular because it's cheaper to produce than scripted programming or even the sports highlight shows that used to run all day on ESPN. It costs relatively little to have someone sit and talk into a camera for a few hours. I'm actually surprised ESPN doesn't just run infomercials when they don't have a game to broadcast.

I don't know what additional demographic you're trying to get with your suggestions. Is it just male football fans ages 25-55? It's certainly not women.

The best way for the Twins to reach more viewers is to put more games on broadcast TV, fewer on premium cable channels and end the streaming blackouts. That's the main problem reaching their audience.

[Nine of twelve]

14 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

 

I found some numbers online from 2021.

81% of people over the age of 65 have cable. 

66% of persons 50-64

46% of persons 30-49

34% of persons 18-29

 

There are two separate things here, the means of accessing the broadcast and who announces the games. Both are certainly important issues, and I may be wrong about this, but I don't think that one influences the other very much.

[USAFChief]

Nm

 

[Linus]

I think one thing that is important is that these broadcasters come into your living room 162 times a season. Given is important to pick somebody who will wear well. I think Marney checks that box 

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Talking head programming is popular because it's cheaper to produce than scripted programming or even the sports highlight shows that used to run all day on ESPN. It costs relatively little to have someone sit and talk into a camera for a few hours. I'm actually surprised ESPN doesn't just run infomercials when they don't have a game to broadcast.

I don't know what additional demographic you're trying to get with your suggestions. Is it just male football fans ages 25-55? It's certainly not women.

The best way for the Twins to reach more viewers is to put more games on broadcast TV, fewer on premium cable channels and end the streaming blackouts. That's the main problem reaching their audience.

I agree that the best way to reach more viewers is to put more games on broadcast TV, fewer on premium cable channels and end the streaming blackouts. I agree 100% with what you say in that last paragraph. The regional sports network model provided short term revenue at the cost of exclusivity that prevented larger audiences from accessing your product and that short term thinking does indeed come with a cost. It was short term thinking and over time that model has produced a product that is 7 years older on average than the NFL. 15 years older than the NBA. Baseball needs to reverse that.  

OK...Here we are... baseball has just unshackled itself from the constraints of cable (hopefully they have because they can always jump right back in). This is great news for the long term health of the sport... Now what? Is it wise to take the same broadcast model from the old world and simply place it in the new world and call it good. I say it's not wise and that's my overall point.   

Those consumers that are now available without the constraints of the regional sports contract are the same consumers that participated in focus groups that told the baseball execs that baseball is too long and slow. It's the same research that prompted baseball to introduce the pitch clock. These new potential consumers have already watched an inning or two of baseball and decided that Dick Bremer and an ex ball player doesn't hold their attention and they have stated such in the research.

Baseball is at a crossroads... they got to convince the loyal viewer to now pay a subscription fee and they got to convince a larger available audience that baseball isn't Dick Bremer and an ex ball player anymore. They are going to lose loyal 60 year olds that don't want to add the cost and they will need to replace them with younger viewers who cut the cord in large numbers and where not entertained by the past production model.    

I highly recommend walking into the new territory without the old world pulling you back. I don't know how else to explain it.    

As for ESPN... and however this became a subject. I don't want to get into the weeds about ESPN or talking head programming since it isn't what I'm suggesting.

I'll just say it's false to assume that revenue during the day isn't important to ESPN. Of course production costs are important considerations no matter the time of day... that goes without saying. But please consider that there 168 hours in a week. After you take out the overnight hours, There is no way ESPN is going to minimize potential revenue for at least 72 hours of available non-sport event hours. If Sportscenter running over and over again didn't produce revenue... they would do something else. If Stephen A. Smith didn't produce revenue... they would do something else. 

The Bottom line... we collectively choose what is broadcast to us. We vote every day with our time. If you don't think Finding Bigfoot should be on the travel channel. You'll have to convince those who watch it to stop watching it. Baseball has to convince those not watching it to start watching it. 

[Ryan Atkins]

2 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

How about this for a new solution.  Grab all of the recordings of Herb Carneal's calls over the years.  Have AI monitor the game and invoke Herb's calls as necessary.  If you really want to spice it up use calls from all the Twins announcers over the years and have AI invoke them.  Heck, add in Harry Carry and Vin Skully and replace the names with current Twins names and we're good to go.  I'll even take it a step further and have the Twins roll out an app and let the end-user select which host they want to listen to.  AI should be able to please everyone here.  How is that technology idea for you younger folks?

Believe me, we are not far away from this. Much of what you state above is already doable from a technical standpoint, only acceptance and legal wranglings are preventing it from happening.

Just wait until this extends to the players. Soon, the only way you'll be sure you are watching something real is to be there in person. Heck, didn't the NFL recently broadcast an entire game using Toy Story characters or some non-sense like that?

[DJL44]

41 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

 Those consumers that are now available without the constraints of the regional sports contract are the same consumers that participated in focus groups that told the baseball execs that baseball is too long and slow. It's the same research that prompted baseball to introduce the pitch clock. These new potential consumers have already watched an inning or two of baseball and decided that Dick Bremer and an ex ball player doesn't hold their attention and they have stated such in the research.

Well, considering I often watch baseball with the sound off completely I guess I'd agree. What's interesting about the sport is the athletes, the action on the field. The pitch clock was all about more action and less time waiting for the action to happen. The announcers are supposed to give context that helps the viewer appreciate the action. Anything that distracts from the actual game of baseball is going to hurt ratings, not help them.

During the playoffs I was forced to watch the Pedro Martinez alternate broadcast once because Max was glitching on the main broadcast. There were some moments where the more casual presentation was entertaining but I couldn't wait to get back to the regular broadcast where I could see the game full-screen and hear the sounds of the game.  I don't want to watch other people watch the game for the same reason I can't understand watching other people play video games instead of just playing video games but some people seem to like it. Maybe we need more "alternate" broadcasts. Put Provus and Gladden on for some and have three people chatting for others.

I think that listening to an old ballplayer (or announcer) complain endlessly about how baseball was a lot better 30 or 40 years ago is annoying as hell. You don't hear that in other sports. I don't hear basketball announcers complaining that three-point shooters are ruining the game and I don't hear how rule changes to limit concussions have ruined football.

I do like changing up the color announcer. Each individual person only has so many stories to tell. Getting a new perspective is a good thing over 162 games. I don't need a purely home-team perspective either.

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

There are two separate things here, the means of accessing the broadcast and who announces the games. Both are certainly important issues, and I may be wrong about this, but I don't think that one influences the other very much.

They are indeed two separate things.

Access to the product is much much more important than the who does the broadcast because it opens up more availability and potentially more consumers. 

The announcer actually is much much less important because the difference between Dick Bremer on PBP compared to Corey Provus on TV PBP is incredibly slight using the same traditional broadcast format. Ratings are not going to sky rocket because Corey ends up being a little better because he doesn't have a Bremergasm on a routine fly ball to CF.  😉

They tie together because with this increased potential availability comes the task of now reaching the increased available. I'm not sure others on this thread are appreciating the potential (Necessary) churn that could take place depending on what they come up with to replace the cable model. Some of the responses seem rooted in the maintenance of the status quo. 

Churn... we are going to lose 60 year olds who don't want to spend the additional money required to view the Twins. They need to be replaced by younger viewers who cut the cord a long time ago and have the attention span of a puppy being called by 25 people at the same time. 

 There was nothing wrong with Dick... the guy was a pro, he showed up for 40 years and did his job extremely well and there is nothing wrong with Corey Provus... the guy is also a pro. If others subjectively view one over the other it doesn't matter much to me when the traditional broadcast model is the overall issue that is about to be thrown into the churn machine.  

[mrtwinsfan]

22 hours ago, Brad.dahlen said:

Congrats to Dick on a great career! He has been the voice of the Twins my entire life! Will be curious to see what direction they go, and whether or not they continue to work with Morneau and/or Plouffe. 

 

Hot take - Dick Bremer could be a top 5 most recognizable member of the Twins in the time since he started. Puckett, Hrbek, Mauer above him for sure but he is up there.

 

Dick is famously from Dumont, MN and when I played on the Amateur Baseball team in Dumont we made many attempts to get him to show up to a game, we never had any luck. 

Should have time now  ??

[Riverbrian]

41 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Well, considering I often watch baseball with the sound off completely I guess I'd agree. What's interesting about the sport is the athletes, the action on the field. The pitch clock was all about more action and less time waiting for the action to happen. The announcers are supposed to give context that helps the viewer appreciate the action. Anything that distracts from the actual game of baseball is going to hurt ratings, not help them.

During the playoffs I was forced to watch the Pedro Martinez alternate broadcast once because Max was glitching on the main broadcast. There were some moments where the more casual presentation was entertaining but I couldn't wait to get back to the regular broadcast where I could see the game full-screen and hear the sounds of the game.  I don't want to watch other people watch the game for the same reason I can't understand watching other people play video games instead of just playing video games but some people seem to like it. Maybe we need more "alternate" broadcasts. Put Provus and Gladden on for some and have three people chatting for others.

I think that listening to an old ballplayer (or announcer) complain endlessly about how baseball was a lot better 30 or 40 years ago is annoying as hell. You don't hear that in other sports. I don't hear basketball announcers complaining that three-point shooters are ruining the game and I don't hear how rule changes to limit concussions have ruined football.

I do like changing up the color announcer. Each individual person only has so many stories to tell. Getting a new perspective is a good thing over 162 games. I don't need a purely home-team perspective either.

We are now closer to the same page. It feels good to get away from Stephen A. Smith. 

Sorry about that Powertrip distraction I threw out there to attempt getting a different train of thought going but we have managed to find our way back it seems. 😎

I disagree with "Anything that distracts from the actual game of baseball is going to hurt ratings". I'm simply going to change that sentiment to "Anything that entertains during the actual game of baseball is going to help ratings".

 

 

 

 

[Jocko87]

8 hours ago, Linus said:

I think one thing that is important is that these broadcasters come into your living room 162 times a season. Given is important to pick somebody who will wear well. I think Marney checks that box 

I watched the clip someone linked earlier in the thread and I’m already worn out on Marney. She did 20 minutes on Gleeman and the Geek and was fantastic but the booth is a different communication skill.  She might get into a groove with time but this is a time where they need to know what they are getting.